72: The Ark Sets Sail and the Last Flame

The appearance of the "doomsday echo beacon" was like a sharp sword hanging over the throat of the Solar System. The time left for humanity was now being measured in months, slipping away rapidly. "Hope Fortress" completely cut off all non-essential consumption and entered a state of near-frenzied combat readiness.

The entire Mars Base transformed into a massive, non-stop roaring arsenal. Unprecedented resources were poured into the "ark project."

The ark project was not about building a Noah's Ark, but rather creating an interstellar fleet capable of maneuvering against or even engaging in a final battle with the "Reaper" main force, while simultaneously establishing an ultimate defense system to ensure the continuation of civilization. The project was divided into three core parts:

Project "Bulwark": Centered around "Hope Fortress," it aimed to build a multi-layered, three-dimensional defense perimeter in Martian orbit and on its surface. New ultra-large orbital defense platforms equipped with heavy Phase Prism Cannons and missile arrays began to have their keels laid; on the planetary surface, more prism towers and Magneto-Shock Coils, integrated with Order Energy technology, were deployed at key nodes; there were even attempts to build forward warning outposts on Phobos and Deimos.

Project "Sword": Focused entirely on constructing a new generation of capital ships. In the shipyards, the first batch of three "defender-class" destroyers was nearing completion, and the blueprints for the more powerful "Guardian-class" cruisers had been finalized, with material preparation underway. These new vessels would be fully equipped with Order Shields, Phase Prism main cannons, and short-range hyperspace engines.

Project "Kindling": This was the most top-secret part. Sun Zheng ordered the secret construction of large-scale shelters and civilization databases deep underground on Mars, designed to operate independently for centuries. They contained all of humanity's technological, cultural, and historical records, along with complete ecological maintenance systems and gene banks. This was the final hope prepared for the worst-case scenario.

Everyone at the base was working beyond their limits. Engineers tuned new equipment day and night, scientists desperately analyzed data from Europa and Guardian relic technology, and soldiers underwent brutal combat drills. The air was thick with the scent of metal, ozone, and sweat—oppressive, yet filled with the determination of a last stand.

Sun Zheng coordinated the overall situation almost without sleep. Under the immense pressure, the glimmer keystone within him fused even deeper, allowing him to process massive amounts of information with extraordinary energy, but it also brought a heavy mental burden. Through the keystone, he could often vaguely feel a suffocating sense of malicious pressure from the direction of Jupiter, which was constantly intensifying.

But Sun Zheng knew that relying solely on the Mars Base to hold out against the "Reaper" main force coming across the stars offered a minuscule chance of victory. They needed more power; they needed... a miracle.

He placed his hopes in two areas:

First was the legacy left by the ancient "Guardian" civilization. According to information from the keystone and the relics, there should be a more important "order beacon" in the Oort Cloud at the edge of the Solar System. Finding and activating it might provide the key power to counter the "Reaper," or perhaps even establish contact with any surviving "Guardian" civilization.

Second was Earth. Although covered in tiberium ore and its civilization regressed, it was, after all, the foundation of humanity, with a vast population and potential industrial base. If contact could be made with Earth and their forces integrated, humanity would truly have a fighting chance.

Both paths were filled with unknown dangers. The Oort Cloud was distant and unfamiliar; finding the beacon would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. The situation on Earth was unclear under the influence of tiberium and the remaining Scrin forces.

After careful consideration, Sun Zheng made a bold decision: to pursue both paths simultaneously.

He ordered the "wind chaser" reconnaissance ship to set out immediately after refitting and resupplying, executing the "Deep Space Tracking" mission to the Oort Cloud to find the order beacon. At the same time, he decided to personally lead a crack delegation aboard the newly commissioned "defender-class" lead ship, the "hope," to Earth's orbit to attempt to contact their fellow humans!

It was a risky decision. Splitting the forces would weaken the Martian defenses, but waiting for death was even more of a dead end.

On the bridge of the "hope," Sun Zheng looked out the window at the red Martian landscape and the busy shipyards in orbit, his heart filled with a mix of emotions. This was the home he had built with his own hands, and now it might become the final battlefield.

"Commander, the 'hope' is ready and may depart," reported Falcon, who had been promoted to Colonel.

Sun Zheng took a deep breath and connected to the fleet-wide communication:

"Everyone, we are about to head to Earth. This is not an escape; it is a search for unity, a search for hope!"

"Mars is our fortress! Earth is our root! No matter what lies ahead, we will fight to the end!"

"The ark project is fully activated! I leave Hope Fortress in your hands!"

"For humanity!"

"For humanity!" A thunderous response echoed through the communication channel.

The massive hull of the "hope" slowly moved away from the shipyard, adjusted its heading, and began its journey toward the distant blue planet.

Meanwhile, the "wind chaser" silently sailed toward the darkness at the edge of the Solar System.

The sparks had split into two paths, one returning home and one voyaging far, only to ignite the final prairie fire before the Echo of the End descended.